Hi Raiders,
Yes, this great day of fishing with the fam ended with a trip to hospital....anyone who have experienced or witnessed someone effected by a catfish sting will understand the amount of pain I was in.
The day started by launching at Parsely Bay with my wife and two kids (4&2) and heading out we dropped off the crab pots and then drifted off Patonga for flatties.
My 4yo picked up a 38cm flatly (PB) and then the wife picked up a 36cm flatly and then my 4yo followed with a 42cm squid (PB).
We Beached at Patonga for the worlds best fish and chips then headed up to Lion Island and found a solid school of Salmon which were very fussy but managed to snag one on a metal slug which was good fun and viewing for the kids.
Decided to head in and picked up my first pot with a decent blue swimmer then picked up the second pot with two decent blue swimmers and about 10 catfish as well.
I went to get the blue swimmers out of the pot and yep I got spiked by a catfish in two spots on the hand and with almost immediate pain I rushed the boat back to the ramp, managed to get the boat towed home. By this stage I was in extreme pain and somehow managed to detach the trailer from the car and my wife driving me to hospital. The next 7 hours consisted of morphen, Endone, local anesthetic injections and very hot water. I should mention none of this relieved pain except the very hot water.
Unfortunately for me I started a new job the following day and still in extreme pain and swollen hand/arm I managed to shake hands with numerous new colleagues. My hand being so swollen and dripping wet from the fluid being forced from the skin it was an awkward first day. Three weeks later my hand still hurts. Not infected but swelling still visible.
A friendly reminder to keep your distance with the catfish as I can honestly say that is the most extreme pain I have ever been in.
Hopefully this read saves a trip to the hospital for another angler ??